• First of all, I am keen to give out some congratulations.

Ian T-H on 20 years service and the Medal of Merit.

Rik on gaining his Explorer Belt Award.

Dennis and the Band for what I think was the band’s best event to date, the joint concert with the G M Police Band.

Ian was awarded the Medal of Merit for outstanding service to Scouting. He has also gained his 20 years service award. Ian joined 3D after the Chadderton band closed and the few remaining members joined our band. He had been the DVSL at Chadderton so he took on the roll as Explorer Scout Leader for Merlin. He continued the role until early in the year when, due to work commitments, he was unable to commit as much of his time to Explorers. He is now helping with his son’s group in Oldham.

• Rik Bentley has gained the Explorer Belt Award, the first member of our group to gain it. The Explorer Belt is a 10 day expedition in a foreign country on a limited budget and with major and minor tasks to complete. The aim is to find out about another culture whilst testing the ability of the participants to get on with their team members, manage the budget and complete the tasks. Not everyone who takes part gains the award.

• Congratulations also to the Band, three competitions and we have not been beaten. Also for a splendid concert with the GM Police Band, a great way to mark the end of the band’s 60^th anniversary celebrations. This was held at Wellacre School with the hall nearly full (400) and with great performances from both bands and an even better performance when the bands joined together and sending the audience home having had a good night’s entertainment.

• Welcome to James Richardson who has joined Rik in leading the Explorers and to Sarah who is helping with the Beaver section.
• Both the Beavers and Cubs joined in the Big Clean Up run by Christ Church. It was a litter pick in our local area. In less than an hour we produced two large sacks of rubbish. Both sections as well as two Scouts, Jack and Scott Bowerman, also made scarecrows for the harvest festival for which the band provided the music.

Web site - as you will see we have a new webmaster, Bill, and it’s looking good!

• Cubs, Scouts and Explorers have been away at camp, the Cubs at Hesley Wood and the Scouts at Linnet Clough. The Explorers have spent a week in Aberdeen on their Queen’s Scout and D of E hikes, as well as camps at Middlewood with other Explorer Units and by themselves. The Band went over to Holland to join Dutch and Swedish Scout Bands at a Scout festival at there version of Alton Towers. The band also had its annual trip to London to take part in the Gilwell Reunion. This time a few of our usual adults were unable to attend, making it harder work for those that were there. Thanks to the team that came along to help. (See Service Crew)

• Fellowship - We are still looking at starting a Group/Band Fellowship. This is aimed at the over 18s who are not leaders or helpers in the group. We have a number of adults who play in the band or help when the band go away. Being a member of Scout fellowship, they would become full members (covered by insurance etc.) I believe we have one or two people interested. Please come forward so we can get it up and running.

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